Study Abroad Guidelines

All program faculty/trip leaders should implement the following in
their planning of UVM sponsored trips abroad:

Travel Advisories

Follow State
Department
travel
advisories both when planning courses
that include travel abroad and prior to traveling abroad. Travel
should never take place to countries on the State Department’s warning
list.

Health Care issues

Mandate that all students carry health
insurance
which would apply to payment of claims worldwide and includes
repatriation and
medical evacuation coverage. The UVM sponsored student health plan does
provide
this in combination with the emergency services program through
International
SOS which is already in place for all students and employees. Full-time
students
registered for nine or more credits can enroll in UVM’s student health
plan in
August or January of any given year by calling UVM’s student insurance
broker,Consolidated Health
Plans (CHP) at www.chpstudent.com.

Emergencies

UVM contracts with International SOS Assistance
which
responds in emergency situations to coordinate health care and
emergency travel
services. All UVM employees and students
automatically have this service.
SOS Emergency cards can be obtained from the Department of Risk Management at 656-3242 or risk.management@uvm.edu, from the Office of International Education at 656-4296, or can be downloaded directly from the ISOS website http://www.uvm.edu/~riskmgmt/?Page=guidelines/InternationalSOS.html.

·Develop an emergency notification plan, with
contact information and details on how to access emergency funds, as
well as an
emergency evacuation plan.

·All participants shall supply the name and
telephone number of an emergency contact person. A master list shall be
left at
UVM for reference

·Outline procedures for host families in case
a student is injured in their home.

·At least one person, instructor, staff or
student, should be instructed in basic first aid. A first aid kit
should be
readily available.

·Institute an incident reporting system to
immediately notify UVM Risk Management (656-3242) of any event
resulting in
significant injury or crime against participants. This keeps Risk
Management
abreast of any potential liability situations. Click here for a sampleincident
report form.

Conduct a student orientation prior to departure

Emergencies

Faculty/Trip leaders shall be responsible for obtaining information
about and advising students on how to seek help in emergency
situations, including medical care and law enforcement assistance.

Remind students of the aid available from the US Embassy and how to
contact them. The diplomatic corps can be especially helpful since
tending to the needs of US nationals is one of their responsibilities.

Personal Safety

Encourage a "buddy system" Advise students that they not
travel alone, especially at night.

Avoid crowds, protest groups and volatile situations

Lock doors, windows of room

Don’t divulge personal information to strangers.

Remind participants to be inconspicuous. Keep a low profile and
don’t draw attention to nationality or wealth

Contact UVM's Police Services (656-3473) regarding training
sessions that may be available to the University community.

Advise students of any planned activities that may pose unusual
risk or require physical exertion.

Behavior

Discuss code of conduct and expectations

Provide information on counseling and support programs available in
the host country.

Prohibit abuse of alcohol or illegal drugs

Educate students as to cultural differences, including local laws
pertaining to illegal drug and alcohol use.

Vehicle Use

Discourage students from renting or driving vehicles while in foreign
countries because of complications in settling matters if an accident
were to occur. Should students elect to rent or drive a vehicle for
their personal use, they must clearly understand that the
University will not be responsible for any damage or bodily injury.All
drivers
must
attend
UVM Risk Management driver training and have their
motor vehicle record checked. If
vehicles are chartered with a hired driver, make sure Risk Management
reviews the charter agreement. Vans greater than a 12-passenger are
prohibited. Charter companies must provide proof of insurance. They
must
never
drive
the vehicle that is rented for course work for
personal business.

Early Termination of Trip

Outline trip cancellation and refund policies including who makes the
decision
Outline process and criteria for an individual participant’s
termination from the program. Be clear that related travel costs are
the individual’s responsibility in this case.

Communications

Maintain continuous and open communications between campus
administrators here and those abroad

Faculty will maintain e-mail access with participants, when
reasonable.

Encourage students to call home and check in with parents from time
to time.

Remind students to register their address and phone number with the
US Embassy.

Faculty or supervising staff should check in periodically with
campus administrators

Faculty should keep track of the location of their students when
away from the group overnight.

Faculty should check the Department of State website or check in
with OIE (x64296) for periodic updates on travel advisories, during
their trip.

Waivers

Have all students sign an Acknowledgement of Risk in I-Abroad at https://iabroad.uvm.edu which clearly outlines what conduct is expected from all participants, the consequences for non-compliance, and the responsibility assumed for personal activities.

During Orientation, clearly advise students of any planned activities that may pose unusual risk or require physical exertion. Students who elect not to travel with the group should complete an Alternative Transportation Waiver.

Conduct a Faculty/Staff Orientation Prior to Departure

Develop an itinerary which specifies course activities and
activities that are outside the scope of course work.

Conduct inquiry of the health and safety risks of the local
environment of the program, including program sponsored accommodations,
events, excursions and other activities on an ongoing basis and share
information with students and parents

Do not place faculty and students in residences adjacent to US
government offices, like embassies, since official buildings are
potential targets for terrorism.